Japanese word order for Arabic readers

The idea

Arabic allows both verb-first and subject-first sentences; Japanese usually puts the predicate last. In 私はパンを食べます, は marks the topic, を marks bread as the object, and 食べます ends the clause. Place of action takes で, as in 家で. Other phrases can change order while their particles retain their roles.

Examples

• 私わたしはパンを食たべます。I eat bread.
• 母はははお茶ちゃを飲のみます。My mother drinks tea.
• 今日きょう、私わたしは学校がっこうへ行いきます。Today I go to school.
• 父ちちは家いえで本ほんを読よみます。My father reads a book at home.
• 友達ともだちは水みずを買かいます。My friend buys water.
• 私わたしは先生せんせいに手紙てがみを書かきます。I write a letter to my teacher.

Watch out

Do not transfer an Arabic verb-first order directly, or assume は always marks the grammatical subject. The topic can be omitted when understood.

Try it yourself

1. 私わたしはパンを＿。（食たべます／私わたし）

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   食べます

   食べます completes the sentence: the verb follows パンを.

2. 母はははお茶ちゃ＿飲のみます。（を／で）

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   を

   を marks お茶 as the object of 飲みます.

3. 家いえ＿本ほんを読よみます。（で／を）

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   で

   で marks 家 as the place where reading happens.

Use it today

Read each example, identify the particles and move the verb to the end; then complete the three items.